For Release: Thursday, August 31, 2006
Contact: David Gillies: 202-225-5661

COSTELLO, OBERSTAR ASK DOT IG TO REVIEW FAA STAFFING DIRECTIVE

Washington - U.S. Congressmen Jerry Costello (D-IL), the ranking Democrat on the House Aviation Subcommittee and James Oberstar (D-MN), ranking Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, wrote to Department of Transportation (DOT) Acting Inspector General (IG) Todd Zinser late yesterday to request a review of a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) directive given last November requiring individual controllers for radar and control tower functions.  The Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, Kentucky was not following this directive when Comair Flight 5191 crashed on August 27.

The letter states:

"While the National Transportation Safety Board has yet to issue a full report of its findings regarding the causes of the Comair Flight 5191 accident, it is not too early to investigate how widely the staffing practice at Blue Grass Airport is practiced at other critical air traffic control facilities across the nation..Therefore, we would like your office to review the November 2005 FAA guidance, and determine the extent to which the towers covered by the guidance are complying with it."

Costello anticipates the directive will be a topic of discussion at an Aviation Subcommittee hearing on safety to be held on September 20. 

"This was a tragic accident and my thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the victims," said Costello.  "It is our job to learn what can be done in the future to prevent accidents, and I look forward to seeing the IG's review of this matter."

Link to Costello/Oberstar letter

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